Frugal air fresheners and humidifiers; Low cost and without the toxic chemicals

Sick and tired of throwing away money on crappy candles or air fresheners that seem to only last a couple of days? Scared that the kids may burn themselves or stick one of those potentially toxic air fresheners in their mouths? What about those oil sticks that can be knocked over too easily? Besides cleaning your home on a regular basis by doing things such as vacuuming, cleaning everything with soap and water, and not allowing shoes in the house or apartment, what can be done to keep things smelling good? Maybe you live in a dorm room, and you do everything you’re supposed to, but your roommate is a slob and always smells up your room. Below are some frugal air fresheners that are non-toxic, will last a long time, and are relatively low cost (not cheap) alternatives to the store bought air fresheners crap.

Believe it or not, one of your best odor fighting defenses (and humidifier options) that helps keep your air clean is to keep plants in your home. A doctor by the name of B.C. Wolverton used this technique when working with NASA to improve air and water quality by using plants with great success. So, which plants are the best and how many do you need per room? This article explains it all:

It is suggested that one plant should be allowed for approximately 10 square yards of floor space, assuming average ceiling heights of 8 to 9 feet. This means that you need two or three plants to contribute to good air quality in the average domestic living room of about 20 to 25 square yards.

Research has shown that these 10 plants are the most effective
all-around in counteracting off-gassed chemicals and contributing to balanced internal humidity.

• Areca palm
• Reed palm
• Dwarf date palm
• Boston fern
• Janet Craig dracaena
• English ivy
• Australian sword fern
• Peace Lily
• Rubber plant
• Weeping fig

Some other tips for low cost and non-toxic air fresheners:

• Use vinegar and water mix as a spray to disinfect and deodorize (half and half)
• Put out small bowls or cups of vinegar throughout your place from time to time
• Use orange peels in your garbage disposal
• Natural adsorbents, such as zeolite also help to remove unwanted odors.
• Use a small bit of baking soda on your carpet or rugs before vacuuming
• Leave an opened bar of soap in a bowl on your nightstand
• Keep your linens clean; sheets, blankets, and pillow cases

Inspiration for this article and some tips found in this thread on Reddit.

Frugal Superbowl meals and ideas

It’s that time of the year again where we all gather round to watch the millionaire beasts of the NFC and AFC battle it out to determine the NFL champions. Unfortunately, we’re not all millionaires, and if we ever hope to accumulate millions, it’s going to be through living frugal and investing and saving.

This year, we’ve got an energetic high powered offense in Drew Brees’ New Orleans team with that southern flavor against the powerhouse Midwestern Peyton Manning led Indianapolis Colts. It’s surely going to be a high scoring game. But now, it’s your time to score some great frugal meal ideas and other frugal thoughts on watching the game in style. Below, I’ve listed some great and low cost meals for the Southern and Midewestern fans and much more.

Stay in and enjoy the game with family and friends, avoid the bars, $3 beers, and crowds.

Consider making your own party decorations and spend time doing something fun and free prior to the big game. Consider hooking up a couple of TV’s in the same room if you don’t have that big screen. Play Superbowl game squares for 10 cents a square.

For the meals and drinks:

Appetizers:

Make your own fruit tray (under $15) or make your own veggie tray (under $15). Maybe even consider making your own chips using your microwave and salsa.

Drinks:

Consider making your own iced tea (add vodka with or without lemon for an ice pick), Iced water, milk for the kids. Consider low cost beer like Paps Blue Ribbon, or if you have a large party, chip in a few bucks each for a keg. There’s endless frugal drinks you could make, saving you tons of money in simply avoiding the bars. Ask your guests to each bring a cheap bottle of something and mix and match. If you don’t plan on getting smashed, you probably won’t be able to tell the difference in expensive drinks and low cost alternatives. Believe me, I know.

For the Main Meal (Chili or Spinach Salad):

New Orleans’ Style Cajun Chili (serves 8-12) for under $20;

Cajun recipe found here.

For a simple Midwestern Chili (Serves 6) for under $15:

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 envelope (1 3/4 ounces) chili seasoning mix
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, undrained
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Preparation:

Heat oil in a large, heavy skillet. Cook ground beef and onions over medium heat until it is no longer pink. Stir in chili seasoning mix, then add remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve with cornbread or crackers.

Easy Chili recipe serves 6.

Found here.

And for a meatless alternative, healthy alternative (Under $15):

Spinach Salad:

Prep time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 6 c. fresh spinach, torn in bite-size pieces
• ½ c. mandarin oranges
• 1 c. strawberries, sliced
• 4 oz. soy blue cheese crumbles
• ¼ c. cashews

Dressing:

• 3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
• 3 tbsp. orange juice
• 1½ tbsp. canola oil
• ¼ tsp. dry mustard
• 1/3 tsp. poppy seeds

Utensils:

• knife (you’ll need help from your adult assistant)

Directions:

1. Mix dressing ingredients and refrigerate.
2. Mix the fruit and spinach together.
3. Pour dressing over salad and mix well to coat evenly.
4. Divide salad among 4 plates (about 2 cups each plate).
5. Sprinkle cashews and soy blue cheese over the top of each salad plate.

Serves: 4

Serving size: about 2 cups

Nutritional analysis (per serving):
220 calories
11 g protein
12 g fat
3 g sat. fat
24 g carbohydrate
2 g fiber
66 mg cholesterol
507 mg sodium
276 mg calcium
3.9 mg iron

Note: Nutritional analysis may vary depending on ingredient brands used.

Variations and suggestions:
This salad can be served as a side dish, or add some chicken to it and make it a meal!

Dessert(Under $10):

Monkey Bread

Copyright © 2002 by Michelle Jones, editor of BetterBudgeting.com

Perfect for taking to a brunch or serving to your own family, this yummy pull-apart bread is always a big hit!

Ingredients:

4 cans of refrigerated biscuits

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

1 T. cinnamon

3/4 c. butter or margarine

Directions:

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

* Cut biscuits into quarters and coat with an extra mixture of cinnamon and sugar if desired, makes it EXTRA good!

* Melt remaining ingredients together in a small saucepan.

* Place half of biscuit quarters into a greased Bundt pan and sprinkle chopped pecans or raisins on top if you have them on hand.

* Pour 1/2 of butter mixture over the top and repeat with remaining biscuits.

* Bake for 30-40 minutes.

..Of course, you can save much more money by simply cooking your own beans and rice and add in whatever other ingredients you may like.

What other great frugal Superbowl Ideas do you have that you’re willing to share?

Chase Credit Cards promotions and reviews; Freedom, Slate, and Sapphire Cards

The below reviews will look at three of Chase’s top credit cards; The Freedom, Slate, and Sapphire Cards. In addition, there will be links to the most recent promotions in the near future or when available.

Chase has just relaunched their brand portfolio of credit cards with eye-catching designs and three new lifestyle versions and names. They are the Sapphire, the Freedom and the Chase Slate Card. They are distinguishing themselves from their traditional Platinum Visa or MasterCard on their website. The Slate is their new basic standard credit card. Just because it is the vanilla flavor of the range though, does not mean it hasn’t got any attractive features.

The Chase Slate Card Review

Apply Now for Slate(SM) from Chase

The excellent differentiating factor with the Chase Slate credit card is the new built in program called ‘BluePrint’ aimed at helping cardholders to better manage their credit card balances thereby making life a little easier. Take a look at the BluePrint page on the Chase website and you will find a number of tools that help the account holder to see into the future. They can see at a glance how long it would take them to pay up the outstanding balance at their current repayment rate. It also allows them to see a number of ‘what if’ scenarios so they can tailor a repayment plan to their individual circumstances. It is a good way to answer the criticisms often level at credit companies that they give little support to customers beyond the application and introductory periods.

According to a Chase spokesperson the aim is to go way beyond the minimum standards demanded by the latest CARD Act. The most eye-catching tool in the Slate box is that anyone who carries a balance can elect to repay particular items in full at the head of the queue. Any item that the holder designates as “pay in full” is then free of finance charges. The card user still gets the standard grace period for all purchases and even these ‘pay in full’ ones. This is in spite of carrying a balance.

This is a big enhancement over traditional credit cards where the grace period is removed and where account holders get finance charges on all balances when they do not pay their balance in full. Chase is offering another tool to allow cardholders to pay down the balance faster. This is a great encouragement to the 50% or so of credit card users who fail to heed the advice of most experts and not pay their balance in full every month. The Chase Slate actively encourages repayment rather than just spend, spend spend.

Three other helpful features of the Slate card are the patented fraud protection, zero liability on unauthorized purchases and constant communication about your account with E-mail and text alerts. Many people accidentally incur extra costs and blemishes on their repayment records simply because of lax detail handling. So any card that keeps itself to the fore of the cardholder thinking has to be a great help. All in all this makes the Slate card an excellent choice for people who really need help to manage their credit balance.

The whole package makes the Chase Slate Card ideal for customers who carry the occasional balance on their credit cards too. By designating a pay in full timetable for regular items such as groceries, they account holders limit their finance charges on these items, although they may be carrying a balance because of other spending. This is definitely a reason to consider switching to Slate from the traditional credit cards where all spending costs and the grace period is gone as you carry a balance. Only this and the other Chase credit cards with the BluePrint feature have this designate to ‘pay in full’ tool.

This card also has appeal for customers looking for zero % APR introductory deals. This offer is for up to 12 months and there is no annual fee with this card.

Slate^SM from Chase Highlights

• Now with Blueprint^SM
• 0% intro APR
• Patented Fraud Protection
• Zero Liability on Unauthorized Purchases
• E-mail and text alerts
• No Annual Fee

Apply Now for Slate(SM) from Chase
————————————-

The Chase Freedom Card Review

Apply Now for the Chase Freedom(SM) credit card

Despite its name the Chase Freedom rewards card is not free but it is very competitively priced and comes with over 15 bonus reward categories and the liberating facility to switch from cash back to reward points and back when you choose. Clearly, the Chase Freedom card is aptly named for its flexibility.

Here at a glance is a list of the all-important specifications and then a review of this card in comparison to the rest of the market. The freedom card comes in Visa Signature or regular Platinum for those fail to qualify for ‘Signature’. There are no annual fees for either version of the Freedom cards. Applicants will need a good to excellent FICO credit score from 680 to 720. Chase will refer to any of the three credit-reporting agencies to get this information. The annual percentage rate for credit is variable but currently at 14.99%. There is a premium here for the rewards facility but it compares well with other reward cards. The card offers 3% bonus cash back on such things as gas, home improvement and department stores with a full 1% cash back on every purchase. There are no spending limits or caps on how much you can earn. Finally there is an additional 20% cash back at select merchants when you buy online through Chase

With the Chase Freedom card the company is taking aim at those cardholders who use credit regularly and have an unblemished track record. If you already have a Chase credit card it can be converted to the Freedom card without problems. In this way you, can enjoy cash back with just one phone call to customer service.

It is with the cash back rewards that the Freedom card really lives up to its name. It is only with cash back that you can buy the things you really need rather than being restricted to the options in the Chase rewards catalog. Points for dollars are generally in the ratio of one to one but you can earn an 2 points on purchases made in the top three bonus categories where you spend the most.

Then there is an added bonus when you save $200 in cash back rewards as you can claim a $250 check. This actually makes the Freedom card into a 3.75% / 1.25% cash back reward card. The big bonus merchants are grocery stores (not warehouse clubs discount stores, or superstores etc.) Gas and convenience stores, fast food restaurants, telecommunications, cable and satellite service providers, video rentals, department stores, dry cleaners, drugstores, movie theaters, pet supply stores and vets, beauty salons, spars, or gym membership. Finally there are rewards for local and suburban transportation such as ferries, bridges, tolls and parking etc.

It is up to the cardholder to make the most of the Freedom card rewards. Remember that the cash backs and reward points on the Freedom card expire in 36 months or 60 months, respectively. Managing your Freedom card is made easy thanks to Chase’s new online account website. Here you can easily see your monthly cash back earnings once you’ve registered with this online account service. The service is very user-friendly as they say.

Cash backs can be had from your online account page whenever you accumulate $50 in cash back points. You can have a check at the $100 or $150 levels also but the best bargains are to be had at the $200 level when you get the big bonus cash back of $250.

There are two other great Freedom card benefits too: The ‘purchase security’ feature, within the first 90 days of date of purchase, can reimburse holders up to a maximum of $500 per claim when their cards are stolen or damaged by fire, vandalism, etc. Likewise the warranty manager service lets the cardholder register an item and extend a manufacturer’s warranty for an extra year, where the manufacturer’s warranty is less than three years.

Chase Freedom^SM Credit Card Highlights

• 3% bonus cash back offers in categories like gas, home improvement and department stores
• Full 1% Cash Back on every purchase – no spending tiers or caps on how much you can earn
• Up to an additional 20% cash back at select merchants when you shop online through Chase
• 0% Intro APR and No Annual Fee*

Apply Now for the Chase Freedom(SM) credit card
—————————-

The Chase Sapphire Card Review

Apply Now for the Chase Sapphire(SM) Card

The Chase Sapphire is one of the top rated credit cards around and it is easy to see why. This card is all about choice. With most credit cards the usual thing is to have one or two at most ways to redeem the rewards but with the Sapphire ultimate rewards program the cardholder can choose the option that best suits them at the time when they redeem their rewards against anything on offer. And they mean anything! From air travel, hotel reservations, groceries to straightforward cash back. Add to this the very competitive costs and terms along with the introductory promotions and Chase Sapphire is clearly one of the premier credit cards around.

Because the Chase Sapphire card ‘Ultimate rewards program’ gives the holder choice in how they redeem their rewards it cuts back all those complex limitations that are hidden in the fine print of other ordinary reward programs. What a relief not to have to fly with certain specified airlines on weekdays when there is an ‘r’ in the month.

An extra facet of reward point’s flexibility with Sapphire is the facility to redeem them for gift cards or for desirable goods online. The card works on the standard point system just like other rewards cards. For every dollar spent the cardholder gets one Ultimate Rewards point. Double points are earned when travel is booked through the Chase house travel booking system. While the Chase Ultimate Rewards Mall online has promotional offers to get up to ten points on every card dollar spent at more than 300 partner retailers.

The choice is yours and when you use your Chase Sapphire card it can open up a whole world of bonus points. First time customers to the Sapphire card can get up to 10,000 bonus points for just signing up. Then it is up to them to make the most of the new horizons. With other reward cards a typical round trip flight could take about 25,000 points. That makes the Sapphire signup bonus a great deal. With the Chase Ultimate Rewards program users can redeem flights with a mixture of points and card payment. That’s just another way of saying discount flights.

Users also have the choice, when air travel or hotels are not on the agenda just now, to use the Ultimate Rewards points to get straight cash back. These points do not have a shelf life, nor is there a cap to the amount of points users can save. This give the choice to redeem rewards whenever you are ready rather than when it best suits your credit provider.

While the Ultimate reward program is the gem at center of the Sapphire card offering the interest charges, fees and card costs are also key the customer take-up decision. Chase Sapphire comes with very reasonable interest rates such as a low 10.24% standard APR. Normal credit cards without a rewards program charge very similarly while other reward cards can get as high as 14%. Given that competing rewards cards charge APRs as high as 14%. The APR on cash advances with Sapphire are at 19.24%. These costs exclude the fees for cash but even with them added in Chase’s fees for cash advances still compare very favorably with the competition.

Chase, like all creditors, punish late payers with an ‘over the top’ default APR of 29.99% APR if users allow their accounts to default. As with all credit cards it is important to manage them effectively and make sure you get your payments in on time. In the event of difficulties Chase provide a round the clock dedicated adviser just a phone call away so once again the choice is yours.

Chase Sapphire^SM Card Highlights

• 10,000 Bonus Points after first purchase
  
• 2X on all airfare booked through Ultimate Rewards
  
• No earning caps, point expiration, or blackout dates
  
• Earn 10x for every dollar when shopping at select merchants through Ultimate Rewards Mall
  
• 1 point for every dollar on all other purchases
  
• 24/7 Dedicated service advisor (No voice recording)
  
• Premier travel protection benefits
  
• No Annual Fee

Apply Now for the Chase Sapphire(SM) Card

Interview tips to help you get the edge on your competition

It seems everyone has some sort of tip for interviews, however, some are better than others. I’ve been on numerous (professional job) interviews, have made several mistakes, and I’ve learned a bunch that I want to share with you. I landed a job I clearly wasn’t completely qualified for by doing the below. Seeing that I’m a guy, some of these tips will help men more than women, regardless this will help the ladies too.

In no particular order (some of these might be obvious but they’re worth restating):

• Arrive on time, there’s no excuse for being late whatsoever.
• Dress up and be clean shaven (this doesn’t mean you have to lose the goatee or beard either). Just any old sport coat and slacks and tie won’t work, you need go with black slacks and a black coat, you can vary the shirt and tie to show style or your own touch. You only have to button the top button of the coat! Borrow something from a friend or family member if you have to, heck, buy something and take it back after the interview if you have to. If you get the job, dress for the next position you want in the company.
• Clean and shined shoes is a must.
• Don’t wear cologne or perfume or smell like smoke. Wear antiperspirant or something that doesn’t smell. Don’t come into an interview smelling like cigarette smoke – chew nicotine gum before if you have to. Don’t wear an undershirt if you sweat too much either.  If they ask you if you smoke, tell them you quit recently (some employers test for nicotine use though – you can find out on their website).
• Dry your hands before shaking hands with others (if you sweat). Shake with a firm grip, not a weak flimsy grip.
• Be knowledgeable about the position and company you want to work for. You don’t have to know everything, but you should spend half an hour to an hour learning about their products or services and top dogs. Know what will be expected of you and be ready to answer  – even if you don’t have the necessary experience.
• Know who you’re meeting with beforehand, and their role in the organization. Have some questions ready for each of them, such as, “In what respect would I be working with you, How would you describe the company culture, what do you like most or least about your job.” You should have questions for these people, unless you’re willing to take anything this is as much about you finding the right company to work for. It doesn’t make sense to take a job just to quit a month or two later because you’re miserable.
• Be confident you’re going to get the job, but not cocky.
• Bring something to write notes on. Don’t write down everything they talk about in the interview, rather key points that you want to communicate back in your thank-you letters. Get each person’s email address for thank you letters.
• Be enthusiastic, but not burdensome. You’ve got to show that you’re outgoing (depending on the role) and can jump right in to working with others. As well, you must ensure to them that you work well with little supervision.
• Think of examples to share before hand of accomplishments you’ve made, as well as mistakes you’ve made and how you overcame them.
• If you don’t have complete experience in the job you’re applying for, emphasize your ability to learn quickly on the job. Emphasize your desire to keep learning and bettering yourself through continual growth in education and experience. Know what you want to do in 5 to 10 years. Anticipate your career path and communicate it well.
• Avoid using buzzwords to make yourself sound more intelligent.
• Show how what you’ve done in the past has helped to increase the bottom line. At every opportunity, show things that you’ve done to help cut costs and or increase profits in your past jobs. Make them feel that you will pay for your salary by process improvements, and how you have a knack for finding solutions through working with others.
• Be happy and nice and make eye contact with the interviewer. If the person interviewing you doesn’t, it’s OK, be attentive. Listen to what they’re saying to you.
• Avoid talking about your salary expectations by saying you’re more interested in finding the right job. Another method would be to tell them that it depends on the expectations and requirements of the job and until you learn them then it’s too difficult to give them a number. Get the job first, employers will be much more willing to negotiate salary if they want you, believe me.
• Sell yourself. This means inject your past experiences as the interviewer brings up questions. For example, they may ask you what experience do you have in dealing with customers. You’re response shouldn’t be a blanket statement, such as, all my customers love me. Rather, give examples of problems customers had and how you helped them resolve the situation to their satisfaction while keeping the companies profits in mind.
• Keep the attitude that the company interviewing must sell you on the job too. This is supposed to be two parties coming to an agreement to work together, not just one party wanting to work with another.
• Treat the receptionist the same way you treat the hiring manager, and everyone in between.
• Send thank you letters via email within 48 hours, the faster the better. In your thank-you letters talk about points each person brought up, and how you can help to solve their problems. Even send the receptionist a thank-you letter. Don’t use a boiler plate letter to each person, write out individual letters to each person – none of them should be the same.
• Make it seem like you’re in demand and have a few other interviews, don’t be afraid to share the fact that you have another offer on the table too. Create an outside demand for yourself and make the interviewers think they will lose you if they don’t act quick.
• Don’t be afraid to ask when you can expect to hear back from them. Find a point person to keep in contact with, but only bother them when a deadline for them calling you back has passed. Push the envelope if need be, but only if completely necessary, by this I mean tell them you’ve got another offer and you need to know where they stand, because you’re extremely interested in their position, maybe more so than the offer you have on the table.

The above list should give you a great head-start on your competition. Don’t fret if you don’t get the job right away. It takes time and patience and rehearsal, sometimes through screwing up, before you’ve got your game down. Always shoot high for yourself, meaning take the interviews for jobs you’re not completely qualified for. It’s worth the shot, I’m living proof. Good luck!

Make saving money fun, like a game

Too many people think being frugal is no fun, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You can make being frugal fun and enjoyable by taking the time to retrain your brain and see the upside in not spending frivolously, and the rewards that come from waiting.

Instead of thinking I must have that new TV or new car, think, If I can just hold off for a while longer, I will be way better off. By saving up and paying cash for large purchases, you will avoid the ridiculous interest charges and actually make money on the money you’ve saved.

Instead of setting a weekly budget of say $25 for lunch during the work week, ask yourself if you can make your own at home for the entire week for $10 or less. Make it a game you play with yourself or your family, to see who can save the most money while getting the most out of what you need. You can do the same for breakfast and dinner. How good can we eat for the least amount of money? Figure out what you want to eat for the week and set out to find the best deals on those products. Take the difference in what you would have spent and throw it in a piggy bank for a month. You will be surprised to see you can have fun while saving hundreds!

Get the kids involved too, it well help teach them that being frugal can be fun. Decide on a reward for yourself or your family and sock the rest away in the bank or invest it. Make goals for saving X amount of dollars, and the reward that goes along with meeting a certain goal. Take the grocery example, say your plan is to reduce your food bill by $300, if you reach your goal, you get to take half of it and spend it however you want. Maybe you only save $200, but still there is the reward and you’re better off in the long run.

Consider other areas of your life in which you overspend, and make a similar plan. You will soon grow to be thrilled when you find excellent deals, because you know you’re doing the best you can and saving a bunch of money.

Create a competition between you and your spouse. Give a bonus award to the winner. You will learn from each other. Involve the kids too if you have them. Maybe you give them an allowance, offer perks for them saving money – like an extra few bucks if they save a certain amount of money.

Being frugal can be fun if you approach it with the right attitude and rewards structure, it’s really up to you. When you move away from materialism, the little things seems to be so much more meaningful. Not to mention, the healthier foods seem to be less costly! Good luck!